Microsoft's Xbox Series X25 has a date and a price. It also has a stock problem.
The limited-edition console launches on November 13, 2026 at $899.99 in the US. Xbox announced it on August 26 as part of the "Xbox 25th anniversary collection". Public pre-orders opened on August 27 at 7 a.m. PDT in select markets. They sold out fast, so most buyers will not get one at list price.
The short version: the X25 is a Series X with a translucent green shell, a numbered engraving, a special edition controller and a free Halo game download. It costs about $100 more than the standard Series X. Here is what you get for that and whether it is worth chasing.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| August 1 | Xbox console price rise takes effect worldwide |
| August 26 | Xbox Wire announces the X25. Some fans get email invites to pre-order |
| August 27 | Public pre-orders open (select markets, one per customer) |
| October 20 | X25 Special Edition controller launches on its own |
| November 13 | Xbox Series X25 console launches |
| November 25 | Reported Best Buy restock through its Drops app (one outlet only) |
Sources disagree on one date. In August, Games.gg reported a November 27 launch (Black Friday) for "around $899", based on retail backend data before Microsoft spoke. Xbox Wire then confirmed November 13. Go with November 13. One outlet also says the Xbox Store listing shows a 5:00 a.m. release time that day.
Price and what is in the box
The US price is $899.99. Reports put the UK price at £759.99 and the eurozone price at €899.99. Xbox says pricing varies by market and that pre-orders are limited to one collection per customer.
Xbox's own pages list this in the box:
- The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console in translucent "OG Green", with a unique numbered engraving
- The Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition, also in translucent green
- A full-game download of Halo: Campaign Evolved (a download, not a disc)
Some coverage reads as if the controller is a separate purchase. That is true of the standalone controller, which launched October 20 and is reported at $79.99. But Xbox's collection page lists the X25 controller in the console pack.
Xbox's Series X page lists the X25 as a 1TB, disc-drive option. Xbox Wire does not give a storage figure.
Xbox Series X25 vs Series X vs Series S
| Series X25 | Series X (1TB disc) | Series S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US list price | $899.99 | $799.99 (reported) | $499.99 (512GB) or $599.99 (1TB), reported |
| Availability | Nov 13, limited, mostly sold out | On sale now | On sale now |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD | 512GB or 1TB |
| Disc drive | Yes | Yes (4K Blu-ray) | No, all-digital |
| Processor and graphics | Series X class, no new silicon reported | 8-core Zen 2, 12 teraflops | Not compared here |
| Memory | Same as Series X | 16GB GDDR6 | 10GB GDDR6 |
| Controller in box | X25 Special Edition | Standard controller | Standard controller |
| Included game | Halo: Campaign Evolved download | None | None |
| Design | Translucent OG Green, numbered | Carbon Black | Varies by model (1TB is Carbon Black) |
Two notes on this table. We found no sign of new internal hardware in the X25. Tech Insider says it uses no new silicon, so it is not a performance upgrade. And the Series X and Series S prices come from reports of the August 1 price rise (Xbox Series X Digital is reported at $749.99). Some outlets list different figures, so check the price at checkout.
What is new, and where each wins
The X25 wins on looks and bundle. The shell is see-through green with the Xbox logo lit up. Each console is engraved and numbered. You get the matching controller and a Halo remake download. If you were going to buy Halo: Campaign Evolved anyway, that narrows the $100 gap.
The Series X wins on price and availability. As far as we can tell, it plays the same games the same way. It is in stock and about $100 cheaper. Limited editions rarely get discounts.
The Series S wins on cost. The all-digital Series S is the cheapest way in. But after the August price rise, the 1TB Series S is only about $200 under the Series X, and it has less memory and no disc drive.
Xbox said memory and storage costs drove the August increase. One report says Microsoft expects those costs to keep climbing. That is a reason not to count on big console discounts.
Can you actually buy one?
Not easily. Xbox said pre-orders were "while supplies last". Tech Insider reports the first allocation sold out in about a minute, and says the Xbox Store showed "Out of stock" as of October with no restock announced. Windows Central's headline says it sold out in seconds with a lot going to scalpers.
Resale prices are steep. Level Up reports resellers asking $1,800 to $3,000, and says some of those listings are unverified pre-order claims.
There is one possible restock. The Shortcut reported on November 6 that Best Buy will restock on November 25 through the Best Buy Drops section of its app. The same article says only 25,000 units were made. We found only that one outlet for both claims, so treat them as unconfirmed.
Which should you buy?
- Buy the X25 if you already hold a pre-order, or if you want the collector piece and can get it at $899.99 from Microsoft or a big retailer. Watch the Best Buy Drops date. Have your account and payment ready.
- Buy the regular Series X if you just want to play. It is the same 1TB disc-drive console for about $100 less. Check the price at checkout, since list prices rose on August 1.
- Wait if you do not need a console this week. Black Friday is November 27, and we track console deals in our Black Friday Xbox deals guide. No Series X discount is confirmed yet, so only wait if you are not in a hurry.
- Buy the Series S only if you want the lowest price and are happy with digital games. The gap to the Series X is now small.
- Skip X25 resale listings above the list price. The console plays the same games as a normal Series X.
- Just want the green look? The X25 controller was sold on its own from October 20. See our picks in best Xbox accessories.
Check Xbox Series S 1TB price on Amazon
Check Xbox Series X price on Amazon
We could not find an X25 console listing on Amazon US. The Amazon links on this page are for the current Series X and Series S.
Other tech news this week
- Apple's touchscreen MacBook Pro with an OLED display reached first deliveries and stores on November 6. Apple announced it on October 28 with 14.2-inch and 16.3-inch models from $2,899, according to Mixed.
- Apple HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K go on sale November 13, the same day as the X25. Both are priced at $299 in the US, per PopSci and Switching to Mac.
Sources
- Xbox Wire: Pre-orders begin today for the Xbox 25th anniversary collection
- Xbox: Xbox Series X consoles, including the X25 Limited Edition
- Thurrott: Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection to start shipping November 13
- Notebookcheck: Xbox 25th anniversary edition console gets pricing and release date
- Digital Trends: Xbox Series X25 pre-order is here
- Tech Insider: Xbox Series X25 Anniversary Console, $899.99, Nov. 13
- Games.gg: Xbox Series X25 launches November 27 for around $899
- The Shortcut: Xbox Series X25 restock, Best Buy announces new stock is on the way
- Windows Central: Xbox Series X25 sells out in seconds, a good chunk going to scalpers
- Level Up: Xbox Series X25 selling out, resellers asking up to $3,000
- TBreak: Xbox Series X price jumps to $799.99
- Mixed: Apple's first touchscreen MacBook Pro
- PopSci: Apple HomeView, HomePod and Apple TV 4K details
- Switching to Mac: Apple's October 13 launch
Product image: Xbox.
